Rodri is one of the four players at Manchester City who have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
The City midfielder has also been accompanied by the likes of Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias amongst the 30 candidates to potentially win the award in October this year.
Alan Shearer feels Rodri will win the Ballon d’Or and feels that he would be deserving of the accolade.
Ruben Dias revealed Rodri’s Ballon d’Or prospects are strong due to him winning the Premier League with Manchester City and Euro 2024 with the Spanish national team.
Stewart Robson also highlighted Rodri as the player in Europe who merits winning the award.
It seems like several pundits and players are backing the £62.5 million man to go on and make history.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
What Man City fans are saying about Rodri Ballon d’Or nomination
However, the 28-year-old will be aware that him winning the award could be a close battle.
The likes of Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe are several of the big names to be nominated for the award.
While a tally of nine goals and 14 assists in all competitions for City was an impressive tally for a holding midfielder, the attacking players’ goal involvements trump Rodri’s; a factor that could go against him.
Previously, Rodri admitted that the Ballon d’Or is a trophy he is not particularly bothered about winning as such as he does not play football to take home individual awards.
However, when it was made official that the former Atletico Madrid maestro was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, Manchester City supporters expressed online that he should win the accolade.
One fan took to X to repeatedly write: “Rodri for Ballon d’Or.”
Another Manchester City supported wrote on X: “It will be a travesty if Rodri doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or.”
While one fan wrote on X: “Rodri for Ballon d’Or. Spread the word.”
Another City supporter wrote on X: “We need one last push…” while using a hashtag which read: “Rodri for Ballon d’Or.”
Rodri could have unique place in history with Ballon d’Or win
If Rodri wins the Ballon d’Or, he will be the first defensive midfielder since Lothar Matthaus in 1990 to win the award.
Matthaus was already considered an all-time great but the award cemented his status as one of the best players in history.
Rodri potentially triumphing this year could perhaps inspire up-and-coming holding midfielders to have confidence in the fact that if they perform at high standards, they too could win the Ballon d’Or one day.
The four-time Premier League could break the norm of attacking players being the favourites for such awards and elevate the status of his position.
Manchester City supporters realise how brilliant a player Rodri is for club and country and as a result, it is no surprise that they are in full support of him winning the Ballon d’Or.
Considering players of the ilk of Foden, Haaland and Dias have also been nominated for the award, the fact that a majority of City fans seem to be backing the midfield maestro is a testament to the remarkable year that he has had.
